Honey Boo Boo FamilyTLC Gave ThemHUGE RAISE

10/1/2012 8:30 AM PDT

Honey Boo Boo Family -- TLC Gave Them HUGE Raise

EXCLUSIVE

June Shannon, Honey Boo Boo and the rest of the clan got an enormous salary raise from TLC after the second episode and they didn't even ask for it ... TMZ has learned.

Sources very familiar with the situation tell us ... the family received between $5,000 and $7,000 an episode at the beginning of the series. We're told after the second episode it was apparent to TLC they had a big hit on their hands, so network honchos approached the family and told them they were boosting their salary. Our sources would not be specific ... but they say the increase gave them somewhere between $15,000 and $20,000 an episode.

We're also told TLC volunteered to cover various expenses, including a bodyguard/driver for Sugar Bear, who was incapacitated after his ATV accident.

And there's more. We're told TLC even offered to help the family find a somewhat larger, more secure home, but June refused. She said she wanted to stay in the house because she makes a big deal over Christmas -- decorating the house for the community. June is heavily involved in her town.

And one more thing on the money front. We're told agents have been "swarming" around the family, trying to sign them but June has turned them away. She says she doesn't want to make money the sole object of the show and she's worried if she signs with an agent that person will talk her into making various appearances that will take her away from her family.